Experience Oldham Active

Make the Milltown to Moors Race Series your New Year’s Resolution

Whether you want get fitter and healthier or tone up in time for a special 2015 event, studies have show that setting a goal is the key to sticking with a new exercise routine. Oldham Community Leisure (OCL) has established a clear pathway of goals, with their 2015 running programme.

To ensure you’ve got something to aim for, whatever your ability level, OCL will be holding three running events as part of the Milltown to Moors Race Series during 2015, as well and introducing a new Triathlon to the mix.

Novice runners can begin their training at OCL’s weeknight running group sessions, which take place on Tuesday and Thursday evening 6:00pm till 7:00pm, and work towards completing regular timed miles and their first 5K. Anyone attending the OCL Run groups will get assistance from dedicated trainers, who can focus on technique and posture, with a gradual approach to help them work towards their goals. The beginners run groups take place at the Radclyffe Athletics Track, to ensure a safe environment for everyone; especially important in winter with the dark early evenings.

Runners will then be encouraged progress to the OCL intermediate level group on a Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, where five-mile led routes begin from the Oldham Sport Centre. As part of this very social group you can meet other runners, find about the local parkrun, and train for your first race, which could be The Milltown 7k, taking place in Alexandra Park on 17 May (date TBC).

More advanced runners can push themselves to join one of the many running groups in the area, where they can train to try the Oldham 10k, which takes place on 21 June, or aim for the ultimate Oldham Half Marathon, one of the hilliest 13.1 mile runs in the country. The Half Marathon will take place on 18 October.

Prizes and medals are given at all events and special awards will be given for runners completing all three of the Milltown Race Series.

Last but not least, a new event will be launched in 2015 for anyone wanting to push themselves to a new level. The Milltown Triathlon, sponsored by the Oldham Citizens Advice Bureau, will take place in Saddleworth on 26 April. The event will comprise a 400m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run, and can be entered as an individual or as a team. After completing the swim at Saddleworth Pool and Leisure Centre competitors will bike and run gruelling routes around the hills of Saddleworth.

Race director and Senior Health & Physical Activity Development Officer at OCL Alan Keane says: “Our race series, alongside our well-established beginners’ running groups and the new triathlon, will ensure local people have a number of options, and can choose a way to best test themselves and achieve their goals throughout 2015. Whatever your New Year’s resolution, OCL has a challenge for you and a pathway for you to achieve it.”